Since announcing My Road to Paris Marathon 2012 Challenge for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, so many people have not only been generous with donations, but their kind words have spurred me on and confirmed that I've made the right decision!
The other night, my sister-in-law held a candle party, which she'd had planned long before my announcement. But at the last minute, she and Wendy the Candle Lady decided to turn it into a mini fundraiser for me. I felt so honoured. I met some gorgeous women that night and was able to share the story of my breast cancer journey with them and why participating in this fundraising challenge means so much to me.
So I now have even more friends to cheer me on, which further builds all the excitement and motivation within me to keep "running the race" and to stay focused on this challenge for a cause I'm truly passionate about!
My gorgeous sister-in-law provided a beautiful dinner and dessert for all of us that night...but just check out these delicious cupcakes that I didn't get to indulge in :(
And why couldn't I indulge in the cupcakes? Well, I'm in training for my marathon of course!
Of course there are sacrifices to be made, but this is true of anything in life that involves commitment and hard work in order to achieve success. If I'm determined to cross that finish line, there are things that have to be done, deadlines that have to be met, priorities that have to be made...and cupcakes that have to be missed out on :)
But when I think of the goal of the National Breast Cancer Foundation...NO MORE BREAST CANCER DEATHS BY 2030...I can almost taste that finish line!
When I hear or read about yet another life that has been taken by this dreaded disease, or yet another person who has begun their battle, the sadness stirred in my heart turns to urgency - urgency to do something. So this is what I'm doing. It's the only thing I can think of doing that can actually make a difference. It's the very thing that is dragging me out of bed each morning at 5.45am, to walk my 10 kilometres 5 days a week. And I've got to keep building on that 10 kilometres, so that by the time I get to Paris, 42 kilometres is going to be like a walk in the park (I hope!) But it's what I have committed to do to help bring researchers ever closer to their finish line of "NO MORE BREAST CANCER DEATHS BY 2030"!
Please check out my Everyday Hero Fundraising Page, to see that I can't do this alone. In fact, we're all in it together. My tally is already at $1610.00! That makes my $10,000 goal seem not so huge after all. I've secured the support of a number of Corporate Sponsors already as well, including PANDORA (whom we all adore)! It's the generosity and kindness of the human spirit, and the individuals and businesses saying "yes" to backing me up, that is going to get me to that finish line :)
So what's next on the training schedule?
My first official fundraising event - a Movie Night on Thursday, 15th December 2011 at Palace Cinema Leichardt!
And you're all invited!
Please check out my Fundraising Event Page for all the details. If you're in Sydney on that date, hope you can make it to this fun night for a great cause!
